Thursday, June 2, 2016

Today in the News Media

Today in the News Media is a synopsis of some of the most prominent coverage of OSU people and programs. Inclusion of any item constitutes neither an endorsement nor a critique, but rather is intended only to make the OSU community aware of significant items in the media.

Not here, says Christopher Higgins, a professor of structural engineering at Oregon State University. When it comes to durability, Higgins says, we have met the enemy and he is us. “We aren’t good decision makers when it comes to long-term costs and risks,” Higgins says. “We buy on first costs.”

The Cascadia Lifelines Program, operated by Oregon State University and its lifeline infrastructure partners, has created a new online tool for Oregonians to use to better identify the risks they face from a major earthquake anticipated on the Cascadia subduction zone. (see also KGW, KXTV)

A committee has been selected to undertake a national search for the new provost and executive vice president at Oregon State University. Sabah Randhawa, the current provost, will leave OSU this summer to assume the presidency of Western Washington University in August. Ron Adams, interim vice president of administration, has been appointed as the interim provost and executive vice president until the position is filled on a permanent basis.

“Genes responsible for the production of gadusol are present in most fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds,” says study coauthor Taifo Mahmud, of Oregon State University. “However, mammals, including humans, do not have the genes or lost the genes during evolution.”

“There are all these fascinating, basic biology questions that we don’t know the answer to,” says Virginia Weis, a marine physiologist at Oregon State University. How do corals respond mechanistically to bacterial infections, for example? What exactly happens during coral bleaching? “They’re hard questions to study, because we haven’t had the cell biology and imaging capabilities.”

But in the nineties, with the Oregon Citizens’ Alliance pushing anti-gay rights measures, Lunch says that started to change. Then, Lunch adds, people at science-oriented Oregon State University rebelled against what they saw as an anti-science Republican party. Now 55-percent of Corvallis voters are registered Democrats with just 19% of them Republicans, and the same amount of non-affiliated.

Four engineering students from the University of Sheffield are travelling to the US to take up internships at NuScale Power’s nuclear test facilities. Based in Corvallis, Oregon, the undergrads will learn about NuScale’s experimental work on small modular reactors (SMR), seen by some as a cheaper and more flexible alternative to mammoth nuclear developments such as Hinkley Point. The fully-funded internships will run from June to September, and are being run in conjunction with Oregon State University (OSU).

Coming full circle, Patrick Corcoran, coastal natural hazards specialist with Oregon State University, pointed out how difficult it is to physically prepare for Cascadia until one has psychologically prepared for it. Humans, he said, are not hardwired to brace for events of such low frequency and high magnitude.

Oregon State University will open an on-campus dorm this fall specifically designed for students recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. The university said it believes the new housing and support center is the first of its kind in Oregon, at either a private or public institution. (see also KGW, Bend Bulletin, Northwest Cable News)

Blood thirsty as that may sound, most gardeners don’t appreciate planting a garden only to have it turn into a mottled, notched or spotted mess. Sure, a certain amount of nibbling is to be expected and tolerated by gardeners who use integrated pest management, said Heather Stoven, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service. But dead plants are not.

Today

Board of Trustees: Each of the OSU Board of Trustees’s three standing committees will meet on Thursday, June 2, in the Horizon Room of the Memorial Union. The Executive & Audit Committee will meet from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The Academic Strategies Committee will meet from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Finance & Administration Committee will meet from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. The Board of Trustees will meet on Friday, June 3, to discuss Oregon State’s efforts to advance equity, inclusion, and social justice and to consider OSU’s operating budget for fiscal year 2017 and amended capital plan. 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the MU Horizon Room. It is open to the public. The agenda and meeting materials will be posted as they are available at http://oregonstate.edu/leadership/trustees/meetings.

SHPR Student Awards Ceremony: Join us as we honor the top students, staff, and faculty in the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion.MU Journey Room, Thursday, June 2, 4-6 p.m.

CAPITALISM A documentary in six partsby Ilan Ziv: Blending interviews with some of the world’s great historians, economists, anthropologists, and social critics with on-the-ground footage shot in twenty-two countries, CAPITALISM questions the myth of the unfettered free market, explores the nature of debt and commodities, and retraces some of the great economic debates of the last 200 years.” Snacks will be provided. Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 6 – 8 p.m. in Milam Hall, Room 301. Final Episode 6: Karl Polanyi, The Human Factor.

Upcoming events

NEW! End of Term Sale: The OSU Beaver Store will have its End of Term sale starting Monday, June 6. Big discounts on Beaver Gear, while supplies last. Sale goes through Wednesday, June 8.

NEW! Roads Scholar Tour: Registration for the 5th annual Roads Scholar Tour is now open. The Sept. 12-13 Tour will focus on Central Oregon with an overnight at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort. The goal of the tour is to have new faculty, (0-3 years, professional/tenure-track/Professor of Practice) and/or employees who are new to engagement, experience community engagement and explore opportunities for increased engagement. The tour is free but a $20 non-refundable registration fee applies Space is limited and a pre-tour luncheon is scheduled for Sept. 7. Register at: http://bit.ly/OERoadsScholarTour2016. Questions can be directed to Jeff.Sherman@oregonstate.edu, 541-737-1384 For more information: http://outreach.oregonstate.edu/initiatives/engagement-academy/roads-scholar-tour

OSUsed Store Dot Sale: Come by our public sale Friday noon to 3 p.m. at 644 SW 13th St at which many items will be 50% off or buy 1, get 1 free. Personal purchases must be made during public sales, but departments may shop 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; learn more on our website.

Concert: The President’s Concert featuring the Oregon State University Chamber Choir, directed by Steven Zielke. Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Avenue, Corvallis. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 at the door. Youth and OSU students free. Advance tickets available online only at tickettomato.com.

Lectures and Webinars

NEW! Marine Forum: Mike Morrow of M3 Wave will speak about, “Pushing the Envelope with Next-Generation Wave Energy Converters and DOE’s Wave Energy Prize”. This talk focuses on the team’s experience as one of 9 finalists in the highly competitive US Department of Energy’s Wave Energy Prize. Friday, June 3, noon in Batcheller 150.

NEW! WRE Thesis Defense: Russell Bair, MS WRE candidate. He will present “Stick’n’Cricks: Modeling Large Wood Impacts on Stream Hydrodynamics and Juvenile Salmon Habitat” on Friday, June 3 at 2 p.m., in 272 Peavy Hall. Russell is advised by Catalina Segura in the Dept. of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management. Free & open to the public.

NEW! WRGP Thesis Defense:You are welcome to attend the thesis defense of Scott Katz, MS WRE candidate. He will present “Sediment Transport Modeling and Implications for Benthic Primary Producers in Oak Cree, OR” on Monday, June 6 at 1 p.m. in Peavy 256. Scott is advised by Catalina Segura in FERM. Free & open to the public.

NEW! WRGP Thesis Defense: You are welcome to attend the thesis defense of Ingrid Timboe, MS WRPM candidate. She will present “Assessing the Current State of Transboundary Freshwater Cooperation in the International Columbia River Basin” on Monday, June 6 at 2 p.m. in BURT 193. Ingrid is advised by Aaron Wolf in CEOAS. Free & open to the public.

WRGP Thesis Defense. You are welcome to attend the thesis defense of Russell Bair, MS WRE candidate. He will present “Modeling Large Wood Impacts on Stream Hydrodynamics and Juvenile Salmon Habitat” on Friday, June 3, 2 p.m. in Peavy 272. Russell is advised by Catalina Segura in FERM. Event calendar. Free & open to the public.

Drupal Open Labs: Bring your Drupal and web projects to the Open Labs this Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Autzen classroom on the main floor of the Valley Library. Developers, designers and content experts will be on hand to help with troubleshooting, sharing ideas and solving problems.

News for Employees

NEW! Employees attending other institutions: Staff Fee Privilege (Tuition Discount): Deadline is Thursday, June 16, to submit the application for employees attending other former OUS Universities during Summer 2016. Applications are to be submitted to your business center. For additional information, please visit: http://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/staff-fee-privileges-tuition-reduction

NEW! Submit Events for Welcome Week 2016. New Student Programs & Family Outreach and the Welcome Week Committee are now collecting event submissions for Welcome Week 2016 (September 18-24, 2016). The purpose of Welcome Week is for student to begin to create a shared sense of community, belonging, social responsibility, and will begin their path to engagement. To view the current schedule and for information on how to submit an event go to: http://connect.oregonstate.edu/.

NEW! Health and Safety: Did you know that you can access OSU’s University Health & Safety Committeeonline at http://oregonstate.edu/ehs/casc, including past meeting minutes, information on how to contact a committee member, and a link to report safety concerns online. The University Health and Safety Committee also wants to promote health and safety with the following video for June from Mike Evans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjutUrbIM3I

External and Course Fees: Oregon State University will take written comments on its proposed updates to OSU Standard 576-010 University Fees through the end of business on June 23, 2016. The purpose of the comment period is to receive public feedback regarding updates to the external and course fees before they become effective on July 1, 2016.The proposed fees can be reviewed at the Valley Library circulation desk.Comments should be directed to Susan Barba at susan.barba@oregonstate.edu.

Grant process survey: To better understand faculty perspectives on the end-to-end grant process, the OSU Research Council, in conjunction with the Research Office, is requesting your input via this survey. http://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5hF2eA3wNo9FYZT Influence the changes you seek! The survey covers the following topics: proposal development, proposal writing, proposal submission, research compliance, post-award activities, and research impact. It should take about 10 minutes.

Monthly Emergency Preparedness Bulletin – Wildfire:Increasing numbers of people are making their homes in woodland settings, rural areas, or remote mountain sites. These residents face the danger of wildfires. Wildfires often begin unnoticed, however they spread very quickly. Reduce your risk by preparing now – before wildfire strikes. Meet with your family to decide what to do and where to go if wildfires threaten your area. Download this month’s Preparedness Bulletin at http://emergency.oregonstate.edu/preparedness-topics and share with your co-workers.

Oregon State Ecampus launches podcast on research literacy in higher education: Oregon State University Ecampus has launched a weekly podcast, “Research in Action,” to address topics and issues facing researchers across the nation. “Research in Action” features interviews with experts across a range of disciplines who share their expertise on qualitative, quantitative and mixed research methods. Guests also discuss their personal experiences as researchers; research and writing practices; organizational and productivity strategies; and more. Learn more and listen to the podcast.

Become an OSU Search Advocate: Search Advocates collaborate with search committees to support fairness, validity, and inclusion in the search and selection processes. There is a 2-part workshop series available every month this summer — register for both Session I and Session II on the OSU Professional Development website at http://oregonstate.edu/training/course_list.php?cat_id=44 using your onid user account. Workshops will be held in the new LInC (Learning Innovation Center) building, and meals are included. If you have questions, please contact Anne Gillies (anne.gillies@oregonstate.edu, 541-737-0865).

Grant process survey: To better understand faculty perspectives on the end-to-end grant process, the OSU Research Council, in conjunction with the Research Office, is requesting your input via this survey. http://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5hF2eA3wNo9FYZT Influence the changes you seek! The survey covers the following topics: proposal development, proposal writing, proposal submission, research compliance, post-award activities, and research impact. It should take about 10 minutes.

Traffic and Maintenance

NEW! Graf Hall: Due to prep work being be performed on the outside of Graf Hall in preparation for painting, the parking spaces on the south side of Graf Hall will not be available. The closure will be from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 4 (View Map).

Hwy 20: Construction on U.S. 20 between Newport and Corvallis is underway. The road will be open with minimal delays between June 1 and July 15 near Eddyville (milepost 16). Expect some delays of up to 20 minutes for equipment moving across the roadway, but the contractor is going to attempt to use very few of the previously anticipated two-hour closures. Whenever a two-hour closure is planned, the exact time will be announced a week in advance on the website schedule.

Jobs

Job postings: Oregon State University is transitioning to a new jobs website. During the transition, there are two different locations to search job postings, depending on the date that the job was posted. If you visit http://oregonstate.edu/jobs you’ll have access to both sites for your search.

The College of Veterinary Medicine is seeking an Executive Assistant to the Dean. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed term professional faculty position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Dean. Posting # P00340UF. Closes June 3.

Office Specialist 2: Counseling and Psychological Services invites applications for one full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month Office Specialist 2. This position is part of a 3-person team of Office Specialists supporting clinical staff and clients. Posting #P00268CT. Closes June 3.

The Center for Genome Research & Biocomputing (CGRB) is seeking a Bioinformatics e-Trainer/Faculty Research Assistant. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed term professional faculty position. Posting #P00300UF. Closes June 3.

The Graduate School (Internal Employment Opportunity) is seeking an Associate Dean. This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed term professional faculty position. Posting #P00372UF . Closes June 5.

The College of Public Health and Human Services located in the Lane County Extension office invites applications for one part-time .75 FTE (approximately 30 hours per week), Limited Duration, Education Program Assistant (EPA1) appointment based in Eugene and serving Lane County. This is a limited duration appointment expected to last approximately 1 year from the appointment begin date. Posting #P00264CT. Closes June 6.

Administrative Program Specialist – School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, Administrative Program Specialist position. Posting # P00278CT. Full Consideration date is June 7. Closes July 31.

The College of Public Health and Human Services located in the Lane County Extension office invites applications for one part-time .75 FTE (approximately 30 hours per week), Limited Duration, Education Program Assistant (EPA1) appointment based in Eugene and serving Lane County. This is a limited duration appointment expected to last approximately 1 year from the appointment begin date. Posting #P00263CT. Closes June 8.

NEW! Academic Technologies is seeking an Analyst Programmer. This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), competency level 2 position at Oregon State University (OSU). Posting #P00286CT. Closes June 27. For Full consideration apply by June 9.

OSU Extension Service invites applications for a part-time (.95 FTE), Limited Duration (approximately 1 year), Education Program Assistant (EPA1) in Hood River and serving Hood River County. This particular position has a priority designation for working with Spanish speaking audiences through the utilization of bi-literate/bi-cultural skills. Posting #P00281CT. Closes June 12.

Assoc Dir-Undergrad Recruitment– The College of Business invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, Associate Director of Undergraduate Student Recruitment. Posting #P00348UF. For full consideration apply by June 14. Closes July 31.

The Office for Research is seeking an Executive Assistant. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed term professional faculty position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Vice President for Research. Posting # P00353UF. Full consideration June 15. Closes June 25.

Adventure Administrative Program Assistant. The Department of Recreational Sports at Oregon State University welcomes initiative, organizational excellence, and passion for Student Development through Adventure. Inviting applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month Administrative Program Assistant. Posting #P00258CT Closes June 15.

Dir – Strategic Partnerships– The College of Engineering invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, Director of Strategic Partnerships. Posting # P00306UF. For full consideration apply by June 15. Closes Aug. 1.

The College of Public Health & Human Sciences at Oregon State University (OSU) invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, fixed-term 4-H Outreach Program Coordinator position in Wasco county. Posting #P00193UF. Closes June 19.

Assoc Dir-MBA Recruitment – The College of Business invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, Associate Director of MBA Student Recruitment. Posting #P00364UF. For full consideration apply by June 23. Closes July 31.

The Department of Outreach and Engagement invites applications for a full-time, fixed-term, OSU Open Campus Education Coordinator appointment. The responsibilities of this position are as follows: 0.50 FTE Tillamook Bay Community College assignment and 0.50 FTE OSU Open Campus. Posting #P00351UF. Closes June 26.

The Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University (OSU) invites applications for two full-time (1.0 FTE), fixed-term, 12-month Faculty Research Assistant positions serving the Eastern and South East regions of Oregon in applied research and stakeholder involvement in enhancing greater sage­grouse habitat. Posting #P00322UF. Closes June 30.

This recruitment will be used to fill one part-time (.75 FTE) intermittent Food Service Worker 1 position for the Oregon 4H Conference and Education center at Oregon State University (OSU). This position will be located in rural Salem, Oregon. Posting # P00090CT. Closes June 30.

Student Worker, Foundation Services: PT 20 hours/week starting July 1. The OSU Foundation is looking for a student worker to provide administrative and office support to the Director and Assistant Director of Foundation Services. The Foundation Services program oversees and facilitates the development and programmatic administration of private foundation proposals for multiple units to meet the priorities of Oregon State University. Learn more and apply at http://www.osufoundation.org/s/359/foundation/index.aspx?sid=359&gid=34&pgid=5296.

Faculty Research Assistant. The Department of Microbiology invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term position in a molecular microbiology research laboratory. The duties of this position include testing new antibiotics in mouse models of infection, and in standard clinical laboratory assays. Applicants must have research laboratory experience working with research animals (preferably mice), and pathogenic bacteria. Applications accepted through July 5. https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/24786

Weather

Corvallis: “A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone if it is to keep its edge. That is why I read so much.” ~ Tyrion Lannister. Slight chance of showers, then mostly cloudy. High of 76, low of 52. Sunny tomorrow.

Central Oregon: Partly sunny, high of 77, low of 51. Sunny tomorrow.

Newport: Chance of showers, high of 61, low of 52. Mostly sunny tomorrow.